the gray clouds, casting long

wanted to punish her, but the memory of last night's storm - the purple lightning, his own hands sh

d, letting a tiny fraction of the golden energy flow into her arms. The heavy metal sudde

or. She carried a tin plate. She toss

single slice of sta

ach growled loudly, but she didn't

abitha muttered

barn. Two other teenage boys followed him

cket and loaded it. He pulled the r

mple. She flinched. A thin

laughed

ped the axe. She turned and lo

step back, suddenly feeling very cold. But hi

Gus yelled. He stomped forward,

ve her body. Sh

in front of Gus's boots. She im

er. His balance lurched. He pitched f

ing. He pushed himself up onto his

ds went v

embling with rage. He c

y into a tight, heavy ball inside her head. W

visible weight aga

or. He dropped to his knees and clutched his head. His vision blurred. He

it stop." He collapsed for

nd ran out of the house. She

she s

back. She lowered her head and mad

er eyes were wild. "Wh

hed at

heavy body flew past her. Tabitha tripped ov

there. He held a shotgun. He pumped the

beat remained perfectly steady

remembered how powerless he had felt. His finger hovered near the tri

n the mud. "Do s

rve had broken completely. He backed

m. She picked up the axe and

thmic thumping of helicopter rotors b